Engine-starting system



Feb. 17, 1931. J, Goop 1,792,583

:ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM Filed June 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNvENToizFeb. 17, 1931. J. GOOD ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM Filed June 29, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet I;

INVENTOR Patented Feb. 17, 19391V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN GOOD,F GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC MOTOR STOP AND START,INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ENGINE-STARTINGSYSTEM Application led June 29,

The object of the invention is to improve the engine starting systems ofautomobiles and includes the organization of the starter mechanism insuch a Way that the physical effort required of the driver to set suchmechanism in action is opposed by a counterpressure while the engine isliring or is being driven by the momentum of the automobile, therebyproviding certain advantages hereinafter made toappear. The inventionalso includes improved starter mechanism particularly suited forobtaining the result ystated and so organized as to guard againstaccidental operation thereof when the engine is x firing, or beingdriven as stated, as well as to provide other advantages having to dowith simplification and improvement of the starting process, all asherein ydescribed. and exemplified vin the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows part of a conventional auto` mobile power plant having theinvention applied,

Figs. 2 and 6 larger scale views of one form of starter switch,

Figs. d and 5 the application of the invention toa diflerent type ofstarting mechanism,

Fig. 6 an end view of the showing of Fig. 5, certain elements beingomitted for clearness, and

Fig. 7 illustrates a modified form.

The power plantf illustrated in Fig. 1 includes an engine 1 and acarburetor 2 con nected therewith by intake 3. `As will be understood,the connection of the engine land running gear is controlled byfa clutchen; closed in housing l and operated by a pedal lever 5 which extendsthrough the dash into the operators compartment. The engine is startedby means of an electric motor 6 which when energized is automaticallyconnected with the engine vas by a so-called Bendix or self-engageddrive. The circuit of the motor, represented by cables 7, includes astorage battery (not shown) and an operators switch 8 which may occupyits customary position on the dash but which is preferably located, v

as shown, for operation by an abnormal stroke of the clutch lever i. e.by a further throw of the lever after the same has been moved todisconnect the engine and running 192s. seran 110.289,314.

gear. An arrangement of this generalcharacter is illustrated anddescribed in my copending application Ser. No. 272,559, liled April 24,1928. y

Referring .to Figs. 2 and 3 which illustrate the preferred form of onetype of starter switch unit, a casing 9 encloses a pair of in sulatedcontacts 10 which are connected with binding posts 11. One side of thecasing has an extension 12 for the switch plunger 13 which carries thebridge piece 14 at its lower end and at its upper end is riveted to acap 15 which telescopes over extension 12. A- second or cushion cap 16is fitted over cap 15 and normally urged away from it by spring 17outward movement of cap 16 being limited by the in-turned lips 18confined to slots 19 in cap 15. Switch spring 20 holds the plunger inits open-circuit position. At the other side of casing 9 a block 21supports a cup member 22 having its outer end closed-by a flexiblediaphragm 23 and cover 24. rlhe enlarged head25 of a piston member orstem 26 engages the diaphragm, the stem 26 being longitudinally movablein block 21 and terminating adjacent the end of the switch plunger. Theswitch may be supported by bracket 27 secured directly to the steeringcolumn or otherwise mounted to suit the conditions in hand. As shown itlies in the path of the.

clutch pedal lever at or beyond the limit of its normal stroke, whenused for declutching but in position to be engaged and depressed by suchlever on a further depression, thus to `close the circuit of thestarting motor whichjin the case in hand, is all that is required tocrank the engine.

The diaphragm chamber is subject to the I suction of the engine by wayof pipe 29 connected to the intake 3 above the throttle 30. While theengine is being cranked by the starting motor, `the suction effect inthe intake is too feeble to produce an appreciable operation of thediaphragm23but as soon astheengine fires and becomes self-actuating theimmediate increase of the intake suction sucks in the diaphragm to theposition shown, causing the v\stem 26 to push the switch plunger to itsopen 'position overcoming such pressure as the driver normally uses forclosmg the starter switch and such switch is accordingly opened,bringing the starter motor to rest. The upward movementvof the switchplunger under the operators foot serves to inform him that the engine isstarted, a factnot always easily determined, particularly in traic wherethe noise of the surrounding vehicles makes it difiicult to hear. if theengine is running, and obviously the immediate opening of the switchsaves the battery, by limiting the discharge period to that actuallyrequired to start the engme.

When the engine is running, which term is intended to include thedriving of the engine by the vehicle at all speeds above thatcorresponding to idling as well as normal combustion operation, theengine suction maintains the diaphragm and its stem in theirswitchopposing position (Fig. 2) so that cap 16 and cap 15, sustained bythe suction, constitute a, bumper device which serves to limit thenormal-clutch stroke, thereby avoiding inadvertent closing of thestarter switch.

It will be apparent, therefore, that I have provided a starter switchadapted to be manually closed and automatically opened in opposition tothe closing pressure. By reason of this fact spring` 20 need only bestrong enough to hold the plunger in its open-circuit position, when theengineis at rest, and accordingly the switch closing movement of theclutch lever to start the engine is subject to practically no resistanceother than the usual clutch spring, the starting act being thusaccomplished more easilyI and with less pressure than in existingstarter systems Avhere the switch incorporates a'heavy spring. Spring 17is stronger than spring 2O and together with cap 16 formsl a cushionagainst which the starter switch is held closed, it being-easier tomaintain a steady foot pressure on a yield- 'ing switch than on a rigidone. Ordinarily therefore spring 20 yields when kpressure is applied tocap 16-and spring 17'yields, as a cushion, only after the switchhas beenclosed.

In Fig. 2, IA have also shown a safeguard against the possibility that,under certain conditions, the suction developed'by the cranking of theengine, prior to its firing, may be sufficient to operate diaphragm 23.:The larger the diaphragm the greater is its" tendency to respond tocranking suction. As illustrated, `the device comprises a reed valve 31which overliesa hole 32 in the wall of the diaphragm chamber and is sosprung that under any degree of suction likelyv to be produced byelectric motor rotation of the engine, it vents the chamber toatmosphere but is weak enough to be sucked closed by the strongersuction developed as soon as the engine fires, so that when the enginebecomes self-actuating, hole 32 is closed and the full suction effectapplied instantly to the diaphragm to operate the same in the mannerdescribed.

In Figs.4, 5 and 6 the invention is shown applied to starting mechanismof the so-called positive-type which is well-known and in which a partof the starting mechanism is moved by the operator, to connect the motorto the engine, coincidently with the closing of the starting circuit.The starting motor 33 drives a countershaft 34 on which slides a drivingunit consisting of a clutch collar 35, which is splined to shaft 34, anda loose, overrunning starting pinion 36 which is connected Y to theclutch collar by drive spring 37. The collar is embraced by yoke 3Srigidlyv secured to rock -shaft 39 (Fig. 6) which is moved ashereafterdescribed to slide the driving unit from the idle positionshown in Fig. 4 to the driving position shown in Fig. 5 in which pinlion36 is meshed with the fly-wheel teeth the sliding of the drive unitentails, as comf pared with that of the switch plunger, the startervswitch andthe suction-operated control may be mounted separately, asshown, the latter preferably consisting of a suction cylinder and apiston having a stroke suitable to accommodate this larger movement. Forthis purpose cylinder 45 is secured to the starter motor casing andconnected with the intake by pipe 46 as in the form of Fig. 1. Thepiston rod 47 of piston 48 is adapted to be engaged by the upper 'end ofarm 44 and motor switch 49, also secured to the motor casing, is adaptedto be engaged by a thrust screw 50 carried by arm 44. This switch 49 maybe similar to that above,described, omit-y ting the suction chamber anddiaphragm stem, or it may be any other form of switch normally held openby a spring.

When arm 44 and shaft 39 are rocked by Lthe depressed clutch pedal, fromthe position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5, the drive pinion 36 is engagedwith the flywheel teeth, as above described, and switch 49 is closed bythe engagement of screw 50 therewith. The timing of the closure of theswitch relative to the engagement of the pinion and flywheel isaccomplished by the adjustment of screw 50 and is preferably such thatthe pinion is in substantial driving engagement with the flywheel teethor ready to enter them, before the motor is energized. As soon as theengine lires, pinion 36 over-runs its shaft as will be understood, andthe increased suction of the engine incident to its self-actuation pullspiston 48 from the left hand to the right hand end of cylinder 45 sothat the piston rod, engaging the upper end of varm 44, pushes thelatter back to the position of Fig. 4, against the pressure imposed bythe operators foot, thereby disengaging the starting motor from theengine and permitting the switch toopen under the iniuence arm 44, isopposed by piston rod 47 (Fig. 4)

1 sustained by the intake suction acting to hold the piston in theposition shown, thereby constituting a yielding bumper-limit device and.serving to guard against accidental operation of the starter butpermitting such operation when intended. If the engine is at rest,movement of the clutch lever beyond its dotted line position, actsthrough pin 5l and rod 42 to rock arm 44 and shaft 39 with the eHectalready described.

' rod.

If theoperator withdraws the clutch pedal before the engine fires, theinitial part of its return movement is without effect on the startingmechanism since the lever will not pull the arm 44 back to its normalposition until pin 5l strikes the other end of its slot. The switchspring alone is ordinarily not strong enough to withdraw the drivingunit against the friction of the then engaged pinion and Hywheel teeth,so that during the time'required for the pin to reach the end of itsslot, the starter mechanism remains in action. The effect is thusautomatically to increase the cranking period by the time intervalrequisite for the pin to reach the end of the slot and so lessen thepossibility of the Aengine failing to start as a result of only amomentary pedal depression. The pin and slot connection is so organizedthat the pin engages the end of the slot positively to return arm 44 andrender the "starter inoperative before the clutch lever reaches itsclutch engaging position, so that there is no danger of the engine andrunning gear being connected while the starter is in operation.

'lhe spring 53 appearing in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is employed to assist thereturn of the arm 44 after it has been started back by the piston It isconnected between a fixed stud 54 and the end of pin 43 (Fig. 6) andholds practically a dead center position with relation to pivot axis 39when the arm is in its circuit closing position (Fig.k 5) so that itexerts little or no restoring pressure at this time but is available tothrow the parts back smartly as-soon as started. Obviously this springcould, if desired, be so connected as to restore the parts immediatelyon removal of the foot pressure. It will be observed that the resistancewhich it opposes to the switch closing movement of the clutch pedaldecreases as such movement progresses, that is to say, the spring movestowards its deadcenter position and thus does not materially increasethe effort necessary to engage the pinion and iiy-wheel teeth fand closethe starter switch. In any event, and whether or not the return spring53 is used as preferred, or not at all, the piston rod acts to exert acounter-force in a direction against the pressure exerted by the driveras soon as engine becomes lself-actuating, and thus guards againstinadvertent actuation of the starter mechanism while the engine isrunning, as in the form first described.

' Within the principle of the invention, it will be seen that theparticular means whereby the counter-force is produced and madeeffective on the starter mechanism is not vital to the attainment of thegeneral object of the invention, since that object is merely to exert asuitable counter-force when the engine is running, which forcepreferably (as in the forms of the invention here illustrated) becomeseffective immediately upon the starting of the engine thereby providingthe further advantage that the operator i's denitely apprised of thefact that the engine is running. The counter-force or increasedresistance by which closure of the starting circuit is opposed while Vthe engine is running may be derived from or rendered effective by anyof the variable functions of the engine, other than the intake suction,and such as have been heretofore proposed for the control of startingsystems;

that is to say, the pressure of the cooling, oiling or exhaust systems,or electrical pressure from the engine generator, all of which attain adefinitely higher value when the engine is firing than when itis simplybeing cranked by the starting motor. The utilization of the enginesuction as the source of the counterforce offers particular advantageshaving to do with convenience, cost of manufacture and reliability ofaction as has already been made apparent, on which account it ispreferred.

The suctioneifect in the intake, with the engine running, is ordinarilyample for the operation of the invention, but in certain conditions itis possible that proper functioning may be interfered with. For example,if the driver opens the engine throttle at a time when the diaphragm orpiston is intended to be exerting its counter-pressure, such openingcauses a temporary reduction in the intake suction, that is to say,untilthe engine accelerates in response to the throttle opening. Thisi/sonly a matter of a second or two but the reduction may be suhcient todestroy the ef'- fective bumper function so that without increasing theeffort with which the clutch lever is being held down, the driver mayinadvertently depress it further and close the starter switch, theengine being in operation. Fig.

j ection.

It consists of a valve box 55 inserted in the suction line with itsinterior 56 open to the intake by way of pipe 57. The suction effect ofthe engine is transmitted to pipe 46by way of passage 58, vent 60 andball or like valve 61 serving to relieve the cylinder of the crankingvacuum and to close as soon as the engine lires. This valve operates inasimilar manner to the reed valve 31 shown in Fig. 2. In'addition,however, passage 58 is controlled by a ball or other valve 59 so loadedas to resist a vacuum of say four 'orlive inches of mercury in theintake but to open under greater vacuum. This loading is ample to ensureprompt closing of passage 58 to maintain the vacuum condition ofcylinder 45 under the temporary low vacuum condition above referred to.When the engine comes to rest the vacuum condition of pipe 46 andcylinder 45 is relieved by leakage through a bleed or by-pass 62 aroundvalve 59 so that ball '61 is permitted to fall and so restore the systemready for the next starting operation.

By varying the size of the by-pass any'desired atmosphere to the intakeby way of passage 60 unless the intake suction exceeds the. four or ,yfive inches of mercury required to lift ball 59. This is important inthat under low vacuum conditions, as in cold weather when the crankingspeed is low and `when with the choke closed a suction of only about twoinches of mercury is developed, the presence of vent 60 might besuiicient to interfere seriously with or even prevent the enginestarting. Ball 59 therefore serves not only to close off cylinder 45 butalso, to delay the action of vent 60 until theengine suction is highenough to be in-- sensible to it. A further function of ball 59 is toprevent the pressure of a back-lire from being transmitted to piston 48.

In the modified form of Fig. 7, an extension y -gine de velops isrelatively low.

I claim: 1. In an automobile the combination of an engine, a clutch'lever, a starter and a circuit therefor having a switch organized forclosure by an abnormal declutching movement of said lever, and meansoperated by a variable function of the engine to open said switchagainst theclosing pressure applied by said lever.

2. In an automobile the combination of an engine, ay starter and acircuit therefor` having a switch adapted for manual closure and meansresponsive to the firing condition of the engine for applying acounter-force to the closing pressure manually applied to said switch.

3. A starting system comprising the combination of an engine, anelectric starting motor therefor, a motor circuit having a switchadapted to be manually closed to start said motor and means operated bya variable I function of the engine adapted to overcome themanually'applied switch closing pressure.

4.. ln an automobile the combination of an engine, a starter, a circuittherefor, a switch in said circuit including a movable contactmakingmember, a spring urging th'e same toward its open position andengine-operated means for moving said member towards said open position.

5. Inan automobile, the combination of an engine, a starting motor, astarter circuit, a switch therefor including a contact-making member,and means controlled by a variable function of the engine producing twodegrees of resistance to the circuit-closing movement of said member.

6. In an automobile the combination of an engine, a starter circuit, aswitch therefor having an operating member adapted for manualdepression, two means for returning said member and means whereby onlyone 'of said means is active when the engine is dead.

7. In an automobile, the combination of an engine, a clutch lever, astarter having a controlling switch adapted for operation as the resultof an abnormal declutching movement of said lever and means responsivetothe lirin condition of the engine acting to return said leversubstantially to the limit of its normal de'clutching stroke.

8. In an automobile, the combination of an engine, a clutch lever,starter mechanism includingcontacts adapted tobe closed by an abnormaldeclutching stroke of said lever a. plunger member adapted tobedepressed by such abnormal stroke and engine-operated means forreturning said plunger with sufficient power to overcome the ordinarypressure of said lever.

9. In an automobile, the combination of an engine, a clutch lever andmechanism organized for operation by an abnormal declutching strokethereof, including a bumper member located in the path of the clutchlever Aand opposing a ielding resistance to movement thereof an meansoperated by a variable function of the engine to increase saidresistance.

10. ln an automobile the combination af an engine, a clutch lever andstarter mechanism located :tor operation by an abnormal declutchingstroke thereof including a bumper member limiting the normal declutchingstroke and automatic means :tor varying the resistance opposed by saidmember to lever movement beyond such limit according as the n engine isor is not running.

till

11. ln an automobile the combination of an engine, a clutch lever, adevice to limit the normal declutchingpstroke thereof and suc tion meansoperative to increase the limiting resistance opposed by said device inresponse to running of the engine.,

l2. lln an automobile the combination .of an engine, a clutch lever, astarter mechanism located for operation by an abnormal declutchingstroke including a switch, means operated by the engine to cause theopening of said svvitch and control means permitting or preventing4operation ot said first means according as the engine is or is notrunning.

13. ln an automobile, the combinationot an engine, a cranking motor anda starter switch therefor, manual means ier closing said switch, mea-nsoperated by a variable function oi the engine to positively open saidswitch When the engine is tiring and a device to render said meansinedectual While the engine is driven only by said cranking motorB la.an automobile the combination oi .an engine, a fuel intake thereto, acranking motor and a starter svvitch therefor, man ual means tor closingsaid switch, means operated by intake suction to cause the opening oisaid svvitch when the engine is idring and a device to render the intakesuction substantially ineffective on said switch opening means duringcranln'ng of the engine.

l5. ln an automobile the combination as set forth in the precedingclaim, in which said device comprises a valve adapted to be closed onlyby the suction incident to enginetiring. i

16. ln an automobile the combination of an engine, intake and a throttlecontrolling the same, engine-starting mechanism adapted for manualoperation, means operated by the intake suction tor exerting a counter-`torce against such manual operation and means preventing decrease oithe suction which acts on said means when the throttle is opened.

l?. ln an automobile, the combination of an engine, a clutch pedal, astarter system having a controlling member so related thereto as to beoperated only by an abnormal depression ot the pedal and including aswitch and starter pinion respectively closed and brought intoengine-cranking position by the use of said member, a device adapted toexert a counter-pressure on said member suhcient to cause the opening ofsaid switch and the return of said pinion and means whereby said deviceis operative only when the engine is running.

1 8. In an automobile, the combination of an engine, a starter systemhaving a controlling member to be manually-moved to its enginestartingposition, said member adapted to retain such position independently ofmanual pressure and means for returning the member to normal positionWhen the engine tires.

19. In an automobile the combination of an engine, a starter systemincluding a starter circuit and a starter pinion adapted to beautomatically engaged with the engine to drive the same When the circuitis energized, a member to be manually moved tov close said circuit andmeans to return said member against its closing pressure in re spense toengine-firing.

20. ln an automobile the combination oi an engine, a starter systemincluding a controlling member to be manually moved to engine startingposition, a switch and starter pinion respectively closed and broughtinto engine-cranking position by such movement oi the controlling memberand means responsive to engine-tiring to restore said switch and pinionto their inoperative positions,

2l. ln an automobile, the combination of an engine, a controlling memberfor manual operation to start the same and means 'tor exerting' acounteriiorce against such manual operation in response to running otthe engine, including a lever adapted to increase the mechanicaladvantage ot said countertorce and transmit the same to said controllingmember.

2% lin an automobile, the combination oi an engine, intake, a starterarranged tor manual manipulation to start the engine, a suction deviceorganized to oppose a counterpressure to suchmanual manipulation vvhenthe engine hres, a suction line connecting said device with the intake,and a valve in said line closing1 towards said device and loaded so asto close when the intake suction falls belovvv a predetermined value.

23. The combination set forth in the preceding claim including meanseffective after a predetermined interval to relieve the vacuum conditionresulting from the closure of' the valve, said means comprisingl arestricted inlet to said line intermediate the valve and the suctiondevice.

lin testimony whereof, l have signed this specification.

JOHN GOD.

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